TP&W Delays PErmits

> From: John Herron > Sent: Monday, December 28, 1998 9:06 AM> To: Andy Price; Bonnie Arnold; Clark Adams; George Wills; John> Baccus; John Cherry; Ken Becker; Lee Miller; Mark McKee; Peggy Horner;> Rick Van Dyke; Rosie Roegner; Ryan South; Steve Hammack; Steve Jester;> Troy Hibbits> Subject: Dec. report and update> > Mailing the report of our Dec. meeting to ya'll this week, along with> final drafts of the reporting forms. Ya'll should also receive the> application for dealer's permits - I asked staff to mail these to> everyone we have addresses for.> > It turns out that there will be delays in permit availability. Our> Licensing folks were not able to bring things together in time - I> still don't understand why. I had the department issue a news release> to select sources last week, which will get more general distibution> this week. The subject of the news release is two-fold a) Remind> folks of the new permits, and b) Announce the permit delay, that we> will delay enforcement, so folks should be OK.> > Call Rosie or me if you have any questions. Text of the news release> follows.> > John Herron> Wildlife Diversity Program> Texas Parks and Wildlife> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------> ---------> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE> Dec. 22, 1998> News Contact: Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453> > NEW TEXAS NONGAME WILDLIFE PERMITS TAKE EFFECT JAN. 1> > AUSTIN--State wildlife officials hope to take a historic step toward> getting a handle on the status of Texas nongame wildlife, reminding> citizens that the state's first permit system for nongame collectors> and dealers takes effect in 1999.> While the new regulations become effective Jan. 1, Texas Parks> and Wildlife officials acknowledged that there may be minor delays in> making the permit available to constituents.> "We expect to have the Nongame Collection Permit available at Texas> Parks and Wildlife offices around January 5 and available through all> license vendors by the end of January," noted John Herron, TPW> wildlife diversity program director. "Nongame Dealer Permits are> available by application to our Permitting Section. We had hoped to> have these permits available for sale sooner, but encountered some> delays in getting the new permit included in our automated> license-sale system."> But dealers and hobbiests needn't fret about the delay. TPW Law> Enforcement officials are aware of the situation and indicate that> game wardens will not begin enforcing the new requirement until> February, at the earliest.> Texas Parks and Wildlife is hoping the new permit, designed to> monitor commercial trade and collection activities in native nongame> wildlife, will provide much-needed information about population> dynamics and commercial use of some 200 species of reptiles, mammals> and amphibians.> Beginning Jan. 1, any person, regardless of age, who sells nongame and> anyone 17 years of age and older in possession of more than 25> specimens of nongame wildlife (no more than 10 of the same species)> must purchase a $15 resident commercial collection permit ($50 for> non-residents). An appropriate hunting license is also required for> any activity involving the take of nongame wildlife from the wild in> Texas.> Anyone who buys nongame wildlife for the purpose of resale would> be required to purchase a $50 resident nongame dealer permit ($200 for> non-residents). > There are several exemptions. The permit requirements do not apply to> persons purchasing, possessing, or selling processed wildlife> products. Also, teachers at accredited primary or secondary> educational institutions will be exempt from the nongame collector's> permit provided that the nongame wildlife is possessed solely for> educational purposes and is not sold or transferred to another person> for the purpose of sale. And, the permit does not apply to dead> mountain lions, bobcats, coyotes or parts of those animals, or to> processed nongame parts and those parts that do not require> preservation, such as porcupine quills, teeth or skulls.> Collectors and dealers also would be required to keep a log of their> activities and submit an annual report to TPW in order to renew their> permit. These reports would provide Department biologists the> information they seek in determining whether nongame wildlife harvest> and sale affect wild populations.> "We're not seeking to create an additional intrusion on the> citizens of Texas with this permit," said Andrew Sansom, TPW executive> director. "Also, we're not looking at this as a sole means of data> collection, although it is an important first step."> With the adoption of the permit, Texas joins an increasing> number of states currently addressing nongame wildlife resources> through some type of regulatory process. Several other states are now> looking at similar measures.> Wildlife biologists believe the permit will help the TPW get a> handle on native Texas nongame species that have become popular among> collectors and in commercial trade. The data could provide a basis> for management of nongame wildlife and would allow TPW to determine> what, if any, additional regulatory measures are needed.> "We want a better handle on the use of these resources,"> explained Herron. "This permit is not intended to ban the use of> these resources, just get an idea of their numbers. Right now, we> can't defend or condemn certain aspects of commercial trade because we> lack the data to help us make management decisions."> Herron stressed the permit applies only to wild and captive bred> subspecies of native Texas nongame wildlife. It does not include> aquatic animal life possessed under a bait dealer's license.> For details on the nongame permit, write to Tina Turner, TPW Wildlife> Diversity Program, 4200 Smith School Rd., Austin, TX 78744, or send> e-mail to tina.turner@tpwd.state.tx.us, or phone Turner at> 512-389-4481.